Filter



Sept' 19, 1950 w. vooRHEEs 2,522,975

FILTER Filed Feb. 2s, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 19, 1950 1.. w. vooRHEEs FILTER -2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb, 23, 1946 Pate'nd Sept.y 19, 195o UNITED i STATES? PATENT orrlcr.

FILTER Layson W. Voorhees, Michigan City, Ind.

Application February 23, 1946, Serial No. I649,697

(Cl. 21u-131) f 9 Claims. l

Myinvention relates to filters and more particularly to those of the replaceable, absorption Ipad type which are customarily employed as cleansing agents-for the lubricating oil of internal combustion engines and forother purposes. While certain features of the present invention are capable of amore general application, as hereinafter described, the disclosure will be directed by way of example to a specific embodiment intended for use with automotive engines. In a characteristic arrangement, the lter car tridge is insertible in`a. container permanently mounted on the engine and is removable when the flltering capacity of the cartridge has been exhausted. The cartridge generally comprises an annular pad of filtering lmaterial whose inner surface is retained by a perforated sleeve which extends the length of the pad and which is telescoped over and in spaced relation to an oil supply tube when the cartridge is inserted in the container. The tube extends upwardly through the bottom of the container and is perforated within the sleeve so that oil may flow through the padand thence into the upper end of the container for delivery to a pipe leading to the points of use in the engine; Gaskets or some form of sealing arrangement are necessary between the sleeve and oil supply tube, or between the latter and portions 'of the cartridge, to pre' vent short circuiting of the oil around the filter pad. The axial spacing between these gaskets varies in different containers which thus requires that cartridges be manufactured to accommodate each spacing.

Moreover, since the diameters of the oil supply tubes also vary in different installations, it is necessary to provide cartridges with dilierent size seals because the eiiiciency of the seals depends upon their elastic grip on the tubes. This situation and that of thev variant gasket spacing obviously complicates and increases jobbing costs since the distributor must stock from twenty to twenty-five sizes of cartridges. Costs are also increased by the necessity of perforating the center sleeve and requiring this sleeve to ,extend the full length of the cartridge.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide a cartridge which is capable of being used with the conventional container, as contrasted withthe present practice of supplying a specific cartridge for a specific container due to variations in the diameter of-the supply tube and of the spacing between the sealing gaskets.

A further object is to provide a cartridge which is constructed and arranged to secure an adequate seal with the supply tube andV which is independent of any -specicrequir'ement as to spacingl between the sealing means or of the diameter of the supply tube. 4

A further object is to provide a filter cartridge equipped with seals capable of `establishing a sealing contact with any of the supply tubes customarily encountered in practice.

A further object is to devise-a cartridge of the character indicated in which the parts are constructed and arranged to utilize the oil pressure as a means ol' furthering the contact intimacy of the seal with the supplytube, thus improving the efliciency of the seal between the tube and the cartridge and lessening the possibility of leakage and the passage of unfiltered oil to the bearings and wearing surfaces.

A further object is to providea cartridge in Which the oil owsthe full length of the filter pad and in which manufacturing costs are reduced by the use of a non-perforated, center sleeve having a length less than that of the pad.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive method of collecting and uniformly distributing oil to the inlet end of the pad.

A further object is to devise a cartridge whose inlet and outlet ends are simply and economically arranged to prevent the escape of the filtering material when subjected to pressure while insuring an adequate ow of oil.

A further object is to provide a cartridge in which the oil or liquid being filtered may ow therethrough in either direction.

These and further objects of the invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel means by which said objects are effeetuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a typical automotive filter equipped with my improved filter cartridge.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the cartridge shown in operative relation to an oil supply tube.

Fig. 3 is a top` plan ,view of the cartridge.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, structural detail of one end of the cartridge.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary. sectional elevation of the bottom of the cartridge as taken along the line 5 5 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of the cartridge bottom, looking in the directionV of the arrow 6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a, fragmentary view showing an alternative method of obtaining a pressure seal with the supply tube.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral I designates a cylindrical container as customarily employed to receive an automotive, filtering cartridge and having a .bottom II provided with a reduced extension I2 to which is connected an oil pipe I3 that communicates with a source of oil under pressure, such as the delivery side of an oilpump. Also mounted in the extension I2 and in com-A munication with the pipe I3 is the lower end of an oil supply tube I4 which extends upwardly through and in coaxial relation to the container III.

The upper end of the tube I4 is interiorly threaded to receive the lower end of a connector I5 having a passage I6 whose upper end is shaped as a valve seat I1 that is normally contacted by a ball, relief valve I8 to close the passage. The valve I8 is constantly urged in a seating direction by a spring I8 mounted in a pocket 20 in the upper end of the connector I5 that is carried by a cover 2|. Outwardly of the cover, the connector is provided with a finger grip pin 22 whereby the connector may be threaded in the tube I4 and the cover 2| tightly secured to the upper end of the container I0. Above the valve I8, the connector I5 includes lateral passages 23 whose outer ends communicate with the chamber 56 which are placed in communication with the passage I6 when the valve I8 is lifted by an excessive pressure in the tube I4 which may occur when the engine is cold and the oil viscosity high. Under these conditions, a portion of the oil is bypassed around the filter cartridge which is of the can type, generally indicated by the numeral 24 in Fig. 1, and which surrounds the tube I4 between the ends of the container. Discharge from the upper end of the container I0 is effected through a pipe 25. The structure so far as set forth represents a standard operating environment and in and of itself forms no part of the invention, except in the combinative relations presently described.

My improved, filtering cartridge is more particularly illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, to which reference will now be made. It comprises a cylindrical shell 26 whose lower end is closed by a bottom 21, the central portion of which is offset downwardly as at 28 and the offset being apertured at 29 to receive and permit the free sliding of the cartridge along the tube I4. A retaining washer 30 is positioned on the inner side of the bottom 21 and is formed with an offset 3| that extends oppositely from and is cooperably related to the oiset 28 to form an annular recess for receiving a seal ring 32. This ring may be made of an oil resistant, elastic material, such as a suitable synthetic rubber.

The ring 32 is intended to provide a seal between the tube I4 and the bottom 21 and the manner in which this seal is established constitutes an important feature of my invention. Re-

ferring to Figs. 5 and 6 which more particularly illustrate this detail, it will be noted that a plurality of bosses 33 are equispaced circumferentially around the peripheral portion 34 of the washer 30, these bosses being preferably formed by ofi'- setting the portion 34 in the indicated localities towards the bottom 21 to thereby space the portion from the bottom and provide an annular passage 35 connecting the space above the bottom 21 with the peripheral surface of the ring 32 for a. purpose presently explained. The washer 30 is 4 iirmly secured in position by spot welding the bosses 33 to the bottom 21.

The upper end of the shell 26 has secured thereto a top 36 having a centrally disposed, upward offset 31 that is apertured at 38 to freely receive the tube I4. A retaining washer 39, identical in shape with the washer 30, is secured to the inner surface of the top 36 in the same manner as the washer 30 is securedto the bottom 21. Accordingly, an annular passage 40 is formed between the top 36 and the peripheral portion of the washer 30 which connects the interior of the shell 26 and the peripheral surface of a seal ring 4I that is similar to the ring 32 and is positioned in like manner between the top 36 and washer 39 to establish a seal with the tube I4.

Between the shell 26 and the periphery of the washer 39, the top 36 is provided with a plurality of apertures 42 which may be arranged in the concentric rings formation shown in Fig. 3 to provide a substantially uniform distribution of oil flowing through the cartridge. Each aperture is preferably formed (see Fig. 4) by making a parti-circular or any other shaped cut through the top 36 and bending inwardly of the shell 26 and out of the plane of the top 36 the tongue 43 thus formed. These tongues are characterized by some measure of resiliency and fulfil a purpose presently explained.

The washer 39 is provided with a downwardly extending, annular iiange 44 which is coaxial with the shell 26 and extends within and serves to center the upper end of a sleeve 45 in spaced relation to the supply tube I4 when the cartridge is operably mounted in the container Ill, thus dening an annular passage 46 between the tube and sleeve which extends lengthwise of the cartridge. The lower end of the sleeve 45 is centered by a ilange 41 provided on the upper and minor end of a frusto-conical, distributing plate 49 whose annular and major base 50 rests on the bottom 21. The sleeve 45 acts as a spacer to maintain the position of the distributing plate 49 and also as a conduit for the oil. The plate 49 defines with the bottom 21 a collecting chamber 5I that communicates with the passage 46. A plurality of apertures 52, also preferably arranged in concentric rings, are provided in the plate 49 and each aperture 52 is formed by cutting and bending a tongue 53 so that it will lie above the plate. In the annular space between the shell 26, sleeve 45, top 36 and plate 49 is disposed a iilter pad 54 that may be made of any of the materials customarily employed for this purpose and may be formed of any efficient, absorbent material, such as long thread, long bre cotton waste obtained by carding bobbin ends.

When in operative position in the container I0, the relation of the cartridge 24 to the oil supply tube I4 is as generally indicated in Fig. 2. The oil is pumped upwardly through the tube and is discharged through an aperture 55 therein which may be disposed mid-way between the ends of the cartridge. The oil then flows downwardly through the passage 46 into the chamber 5I and upwardly through the apertures 52, the absorbent pad 54 and outwardly through the apertures 42 into a chamber 56 in the container I0 above the cartridge for delivery t0 the outlet pipe 25.

The pressure established in the chamber 5I becomes effective through the annular passage 35 against the peripheral surface of the seal ring 32 and wedges this ring in sealing contact with the tube I4 and offsets 28 and 3|, thus sealing the lower end of the cartridge. At the upper end, sealing is effected by the pressure in ential which establishes vthe required pressure seal in the noted locations. An importantadvantage of this construction is its capacity to effect a seal with supply tubes of various diameters, including those which the seal `rings 32 and 4I would normally t loosely. Such variations are normally of the order of slr or slightly more and they are effectivelysealed `by my improved arrangement. It is therefore possibleto satisfy most of the operating situations encountered in practice by acartridge having a single size seal whose sealing efilciency increases with the pressure. i

The method of forming the apertures in the top 36 and the plate 49 also constitutes an important feature of the invention. The partial masking of the apertures by the tongues prevents loss of the fibres of the pad 54 regardless of the direction of flow. In the event ,of abnormal pressure existing in the cartridge which may force the pad against the top 36, for example, the

v tongues t3 will partly close and prevent escape of the pad fibres while still permitting oil now. This arrangement obviates any necessity for covering the apertures with cloth, screen or illter paper and is economical to manufacture.

The provision of the frusta-conical, distributing plate 49 enables the sleeve 45 to be shortened in length and eliminates the common practice of perforating the sleeve, thus enabling certain economies in production costs. Moreover, this arrangement insuresr that the oil will flow the full lengthof the pad 54 tothus utilize the full, ltering capacity of the pad, while the structural .relation between the sleeve 45 and plate 49 eliminates the usual projections, recesses or brackets that heretofore have been used to support this plate or its equivalent in existing installations. This construction therefore provides an eflicient and simple distributing position of the plate 49 with reference to the pad.

I'he cartridge may be variedin length as desired and ow may be reversed through the pad as may be required in certain installations. A pull ring 51 secured to the top 36 enables the cartridge to be withdrawn from the container I when replacement becomes necessary;

With this improved construction, it is possible to satisfy present operating needs with a materially smaller number of cartridge sizes which facilitates distribution in that stocking requirements are simplified as to the number of sizes to be carried.

Satisfactory results as regards the securing of a pressure seal with the supplyl tube have been obtained with the arrangement shown in Fig. 'l wherein the numeral 58 designates the bottom of the cartridge shell corresponding to the bottom 21l and which is likewise provided with a central disposed offset59. A retaining washer 60 having an offset 6l is disposed in cooperating relation to the bottom 53 and between the offsets is positioned a seal ring 52.

So far as described. the construction is identical with that shown at the bottom of Fig. 2. but insteadof spacing the peripheral portion I3 of the washer 30 from the bottom 5l, this portion directly abuts the bottom and is secured thereto by spaced spot welds 54 which may be arranged as in Fig. 6. While, in a geometrical sense, the abutting of the portion 53 and bottom 58 is coextensive over the full annular surface therebetween, the fact is that between the spot welds. suflicient spacingexists to enable the oil pressure to become effective against the peripheral surface of the seal ring 52, particularly when the oil becomes hot. The same construction may be used at the top of the cartridge.

I claim:

1. A can type, filter cartridge for filtering liquid under pressure'and arranged for insertion in a container in coaxial relation to a tube extending through and apertured between theopposite ends of the cartridge, comprising means for filtering the liquid, and means providing a seal between each end of the cartridge and the tube, each seal means including a retaining washer for encircling the `tube and secured in spaced relation to the adjacent end to define therewith an included space around the tube and an annular passage connecting the included space with the interior of the cartridge, and a compressible seal ring for encircling the tube in the included space and operably positioned between and by the washer and end, the peripheral surface of the ring being exposed to pressure in the cartridge acting through theannular passage and the ring being thereby forced into the central portions ofthe washer and 'end be-` ing oppositely offset to form a chamber that communicates with the interior of the cartridge through the annular passage, and a compressiblev seal ring positioned in the chamber to encircle the tube, the peripheral surface of the ring being exposed to pressure in the cartridge acting through the annular passage and the ring being thereby forced into sealing contact with the tube,

c end and washer.

3. A can type, filter cartridge for ltering liquid under pressure and arranged for insertion in a container in coaxial relation to a tube extending through and apertured between the opposite ends'of the cartridge, comprising means for filtering the liquid, and means providing a seal between each end of the cartridge and the tube, each seal means including a retaining washer for encircling the tube and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses welded yto and separating the washer from the adjacent end to define therewith an included space around the tube and an annular passage connecting the included space with the interior of the cartridge, and a compressible seal ring for encircling the tube in the included space and operably positioned between and by the washer and end, the peripheral surface of the ring being exposed toV pressure in the cartridge acting through the annular passage and the. ring being thereby forced into sealingv contact with the tube, end and washer.

4. A filter cartridge adapted for insertion in a container comprising an annular mass of filtering material, the opposite ends of the mass being respectively abutted by a flat and a frusto-conical plate each of which is apertured, an imperforate, flat `plate having its outer periphery abutting the outer periphery of the frusto-conical plate to thereby form a collecting chamber, and a spacer sleeve extending between and abutting the perforated, flat plate and frusto-eonical plate to maintain the operative relation of the last named' and imperforate plates', the at plates 'including aligned openings for receiving a tube spaced from and apertured within the sleeve.

5. A can type, filter cartridge for filtering liquid under pressure and arranged for insertion in a container in coaxial relation to a tube extending through and apertured between the ends of the cartridge comprising means for ltering the liquid, and means providing a seal between each end of the cartridge and the tube, each seal means including a compressible seal ring for encircling the tube, means confining the ring in operative relation to the adjacent cartridge end, and means of communication connecting the interior of the cartridge with the peripheral surface of the ring within the .confining means whereby the pressure in the cartridge forces the ring into sealing contact with the tube, end and confining means.

6. A filter cartridge comprising ashellA having plates closing the ends thereof, the plates includ- 'ing aligned openings for receiving an apertured tube in coaxial relation to the shell, a frustoconical plate having its major base abutting one of the end plates and defining therewith a collecting chamber, an imperforate sleeve concentric with t'.:e shell and. having its opposite ends respectively abutting the minor base of the frustoconical plate/and the other end plate, the diameter of the sleeve being sufficient to` provide an annular passage around the tube, and a filter body located between the last named plates, sleeve and shell, each of the last named plates having a plurality of tongue members partially cut therefrom and bent inwardly of the shell to define a plurality of apertures for enabling liquid to flow through While preventing loss of the filtering material.

7. A filter cartridge comprising a shell having plates closingr the ends thereof, the plates including aligned openingsfor receiving an apertured tube in coaxial relation to the shell, a frusto-conical plate having its major base abutting one of the end plates and defining therewith a collecting chamber, an imperforate'sleeve concentric with the shell and having its opposite ends respectively abutting the minor base of the frusto-conical plate and the other end plate,

the diameter of the sleeve being sumcient to provide an annular passage around the tube, and a filter body located between the last named plates, sleeve and shell, each of the last named plates having a plurality of apertures registering with and enabling liquid to flow through the body.

8. A can type, lter cartridge for filtering liquid under pressure and arranged for insertion in a container in coaxial relation to a tube extending throughand aperturedbetween the ends of the cartridge comprising means for filtering the liquid, and means providing a seal between each end of the cartridge and thetube, each seal means including a retaining washer whose central portion defines with the adjacent end of the cartridge an lincluded space around the tube and whose peripheral portion is fiat and spot welded Ato anannular flat portion of the adjacent end in a plurality of spaced locations the peripheral ed'ge of the washer being. exposed within the cartridge, and a compressible, seal ring for encircling the tube inthe included space, said flat portions including therebetween crack-like passages extending between the spot welds and connecting the interior of the cartridge with the peripheral surface of the ring whereby the pressure in the cartridge forces thering into sealing contact with the tube, end and washer.

9. A iiltercartridge adapted for insertion in a container comprising an annular mass of filtering material, the opposite ends of the mass being respectively abutted by rfirst and second, apertured plates, an imperforate plate -abutting .the outer periphery of the second plate, the second f plate being otherwise offset from the imperforate plate and-forming a collecting chamber therewith, and a'spacer sleeve extending between and abutting the first and second plates to maintain the operative relation of the second and imperforate plates, the first and imperforate plates including aligned openings for receiving a supply tube spaced within the sleeve.

' LAYSON W. VOORHEES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

